Central Contracts Announced

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the 11 centrally contracted player of the next 6 months of cricket.

Included in the list are emerging pace bowlers James Anderson and Steve Harmison, who both made strides during the recent Ashes tour.

Anderson, expected to make his Test debut in the first match of the summer, was rewarded for a brilliant World Cup in which he combined pace with swing an accuracy at a young age for an international cricketer.

Harmison, meanwhile, is clearly the more wayward of the two but also the quickest and despite many loose spells he will also take crucial wickets with his bursts of pace and aggression.

The remainder of the list takes a familiar form, with returning paceman Darren Gough overlooked for the small squad, as well as ODI specialist Paul Collingwood, who is currently struggling with injury.

The squad includes 5 bowlers, suggesting selectors have not yet decided on the final middle-order batting position expected to be fought out by a host of players, including Graham Thorpe.

The full squad is:
Nasser Hussain
Michael Vaughan
Marcus Trescothick
Mark Butcher
Alec Stewart
Andy Flintoff
Ashley Giles
Andy Caddick
James Anderson
Matthew Hoggard
Steven Harmison.

Posted by Andre